Foot massager



Dec. 22, 1953 w. M. ELLIOTT 2,663,293

FOOT MASSAGER Filed Aug. 5, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. W012 DJ wo12TH M. ELL/0T7- A T ole/vs Y5 Dec. 22, 1953 w. M. ELLIOTT 2,663,293

FOOT MASSAGER Filed Aug. 5, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 v 4 INVENTOR. Wo E05vvo/2-r H M.ELL/0 7-7- q TTORNE. v.5

i a te n tecl Dec. 22, 1953 FOOT MASSAGER Wordsworth Mosgrove Elliott,Durango, 0010.;

W. 0. Elliott, executor of said Wordsworth Mosgrove Elliott, deceasedApplication August 5, 1952, Serial No. 302,739

v1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to exercising devices, and more particularly toan improved foot massaging device.

' The main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improvedfoot massaging device which is simple in construction, which ismechanically driven, and which will automatically exert massaging actionupon the muscles of the foot without effort on the part of the personusing the machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved footmassaging device which is inexpensive to manufacture, which is sturdy inconstruction, which is arranged to apply rapid intermittent pressure tothe various muscles of the foot and which is especially pt d o impr vethe circulation in the foot, strengthen the muscles thereof, removestiffness therein, and to generally stimulate the tissues of the foot.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentfrom the following description and claim, and from the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view, partly in horizontal cross section, of animproved foot massaging device constructed in accordance with thepresent invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical cross sectional view taken on the line 2-2 ofFigure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical cross sectional view takenon the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged transverse vertical cross sectional view takenon the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings, the improved foot massaging device isdesignated generally at l l and comprises a rectangular supporting frameconsisting of the transverse vertical end walls [2 and !3 which areconnected at their lower corner portions by the respectivelongitudinally'extending side bars 14 and I5. As shown in Figure 2, theright ends of the bars [4 and I5 are secured to a transverse verticalbar member [6 which in turn is secured to the end wall [2. Secured onthe longitudinal bars l4 and I5 are the spaced horizontal transversebars l1, l8 and I9. Secured in the intermediate portion of therectangular frame thus defined are the transversely aligned verticalbore members 19 and 20 defining a first compartment 21 on the right sidethereof, as viewed in Figure 1, and a second compartment 22 on the leftside thereof.

The compartment 2| is provided with the rigid top cover 23. Designatedat 24 is a longitudinally extending horizontally arranged roller securedon a shaft 25 in the compartment 22, the shaft 25 being rotatablysupported on respective longitudinally aligned bearings 26 and 27 whichare respectively supported on vertically adjustable pivot members 28 and29. As shown in Figure 3, the left end of the shaft 25 is secured in asleeve member 30 which is in turn secured to the left end of the roller24. The sleeve member 30 extends rotatably through the bearing 26 andsaid bearing is pivotally supported on the member 28, the member 28being in turn supported on a vertical rod member 3| threadedly engagedtherewith and adjustably secured in an upstanding supporting sleeve 32secured on the transverse bar [1. The supporting sleeve 32 is providedwith the set screw 33 which clampingly engages the rod element 3| tosecure the bearing 26 in desired vertically adjusted position.Similarly, the bearing 21 is pivotally supported on another member 28which in turn is supported on a vertically adjustable rod element 3|mounted in a vertical sleeve 32' secured on the bar l8, the sleeveelement 32' being provided with the set screw 33 to lock the verticalrod element in adjusted position. The right end of the shaft 25 issecured in a sleeve member 34 which is rotatable in the bearing 21, saidsleeve member 34 being provided with the gear 35 rigidly securedthereto. Designated at 36 is an electric motor mounted in thecompartment 2| with its shaft extending transversely, said shaft, shownat 31, being connected to the driven shaft 38 of a speed reducing deviceof conventional construction, shown at 39, the output shaft of saiddevice, shown at 40, extending longitudinally and being provided withthe gear 4| which meshes with the substantially-larger gear 35, as shownin Figures 1 and 2. It will therefore be clearly apparent that theelectric motor 36 is drivingly connected to the roller 24 through thespeed reducing device 39 and the meshing gears 4i and 35.

Secured in the periphery of the roller 24 are the longitudinal rows ofevenly spaced rounded projections 42, said projections being arranged instaggered relationship, as shown in Figures 1 and 2 and the head of theroller being adjusted so that its upper peripheral portion issubstantially in the horizontal top plane of the frame of the device.The projections 42 are of substantial diameter and may be of anysuitable material, such as wood or the like. Secured over thecompartment 22 and engaging the projections 42 is a cover member offlexible sheet material, shown at 43, said cover member being ofsuitable flexible fabric, plastic sheet material, or other similarmaterial. As shown in Figure 3, one end of the sheet of mate'- rial 43is clamped beneath the left marginal portlon of the top cover 23 and thecompartment walls l9 and 20 and the other end of the sheet 43 is securedto a rigid clamping strip 45 which is secured at its end portions to thetop ends of vertical support bars 46 fastened to the inside end portionsof the end wall I3.

In usijiig' the devipe whe foot"-is -;-iplaeed on the fiexible sh'eet 43overlying the projections 42 'and the motor 36 is energized, whereby theroller 24 rotates, providing the massaging action on the foot as theprojections 42 move beneath theioot. The foot is protected againstabrasion orbhafirig by the protective flexible cover- 43 Which-:does notin any way interfere with athe massagingia'cti on. No effort is requiredon the part of the user except to position his foot on the flexiblesheet 43 over the roller 24.

While a specific embodiment of an improved foot massaging device hasbeen disclosed in the ioregoing -descr-iption,--it will be-understoodthat various" modifications within th e-. spirit Of JJhBiIl vention mayoccur tothose =s1i1ied-i-n-the 1 art.

-Therefore,-=-it-is= intended that no limitations be placed on theinvention except as defined by the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A foot massaging device comprising a supporting frame, a rollerjournaled horizontally in said supporting frame, a motor mounted in saidframe, means drivingly coupling said motor to said roller forrotatingtheroller insthe frame, a plurality of long' -itridi-nal rows ofevenlyiispacdvrounded projections arranged in staggered relationship onsaid roller, the upper peripheral portion of the roller,beingsubstantially in the horizontal top plane of ""thefr'afme, and acover member of flexible sheet material securedtto the top portion ofsaid frame imeverlying contact with said roller.

WORDSWORTH MOSGROVE ELLIOTT.

-=-"-Referenees Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSNumber V Name -Date "L1" 11,427 Archibald Q Septf22 Z1914 2,384,427Andis Sept. l1, 1-945

